Control device



June 3, 1958 w. J. SCHULTZ CONTROL DEVICE Filed April 28. 1954 WilliamJ. Schulrz I'l'llllltlv'll,

His AHorney United States Patent CONTROL DEVICE William J. Schultz,Peabody, Mass., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation ofNew York Application April 28, 1954, Serial No. 426,177

9 Claims. (Cl. 74-504) This invention relates to control knob devicesand particularly to improved means for locking the manually positionableknob portions of such devices against motion once the device has beenadjusted or set at a particular position.

In many control devices, a control shaft may be moved to derive a rangeof control settings for the device in question, and such shafts areoften equipped with manually positionable knobs to facilitate settingand adjustment thereof. It is often desirable to provide means forlocking the shaft in place once it has been set in a particular controlposition, so that the control device will function as desired,unaffected by any careless or accidental forces applied to the knob andtending to change the setting. Moreover, such locking means should bestrong and effective if any reliance is to be had for its performance,it should be simple and easy to manipulate, and it should beinconspicuous and at the same time in harmony with the remainder of thecontrol assembly to achieve the most pleasing effect on the eye.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide new and novelknob locking means for control devices embodying all of the desirablefeatures and characteristics set forth above.

The invention will be best understood, and its objects and advantagesapparent, upon reference to the detailed description set forth belowwhen taken in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded View, in perspective, of the improved controldevice, without the control shaft but showing part of a support panel;and

Figure 2 is a front view of the device, as it looks when assembledtogether; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view, in elevation, of the control knob assemblytaken along the lines 3-3 in Figure 2, also showing a portion of thesupport panel as well as a part of the control shaft.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an apertured support inthe form of a panel 4 having the aperture 5 through which extends therotatable control shaft 6. The control knob assembly is fastened to theshaft 6 and comprises the knob portion 7, the enlarged lock-nut 8, theprotective washer 9, the pair of resilient friction washers 11, 12, andthe slidably mounted externally threaded sleeve 13 having the enlargedannular inner portion 14 formed thereon or attached thereto. In thearrangement shown, this enlarged portion is formed by staking the sleeveto a washer, but other convenientmethods of fabrication could be used solong as the enlarged portion is integral with the sleeve and rotatestherewith.

As shown in Figure 3, the shaft 6 has its outer end fitted into asuitably shaped recess provided within the knob portion 7 and the knobportion is fastened to the shaft by means of a pair of set screws 15. Infitting the knob portion on the shaft, it is slipped over the end of theshaft and pushed in until the proper clearance is obtained between itand the outer side of the panel, after which it may be fastened securelyon the shaft. In assembly of the Patented June 3, 1958 parts together,the knob portion is the last part of the knob assembly to be fastened inplace, the other parts preceding it on the shaft with the sleeve 13 andfriction washer 12 being the first in place on the inner side of thepanel.

It is to be noted that the inner diameter of sleeve 13 is slightlylarger than the diameter of the shaft so that the sleeve is slidablymounted on the shaft for a purpose to be described in greater detailbelow. Also, the outer diameter of sleeve 13 is slightly less than thediameter of aperture 5 to permit the sleeve to easily pass through thepanel.

Next, the friction washer 11, protective washer 9, and lock-nut 8 areslipped over the shaft and then comes the knob portion 7, and, as shownin Figure 3 only, a lockwasher 16 in the form of a C-washer is slippedon the sleeve to serve as a stop for the lock-nut 8. The knob portionand sleeve are keyed together by means of the transverse slots 13a inthe sleeve and the transverse key members 7 within the knob portionrecess. This permits the sleeve and knob portion to be rotated togetheras a unit but does not prevent any motion of the sleeve along the shaft6. The enlarged inner annular portion 14 has the tab 14a which maycooperate with the punched-out section 4a of the panel to serve as astop in either direction of rotation of the control knob assembly. Thelower part of Figure 1 illustrates the contiguous relationship of theinner parts, there being parts 4a, 14', and 14a, being identical withthe corresponding upper members and forming part of a lower identicalcontrol knob assembly.

Also turning with the knob portion 7 is the protective washer 9, asthese parts are keyed together through the cooperation between bentwasher tab 9a and knob portion recess extension 7a. Or conversely, whenthe knob portion is stationary, the washer 9 remains stationary also.

To facilitate positioning of the knob portion 7, it is provided with anelongated portion 7b forming a handle therefor. Opposite the handleportion is the elongated part 70 forming a pointer for cooperation witha suitable scale which may be provided with the control device. Theseelongated portions are cut away, as at 7d, so that the knob portion fitsover the lock-nut 8. The central hub 7e of the knob portion has adiameter less than the outer diameter of the nut 8 to facilitatemanipulation of the nut. It is noted that recess extension 7a is formedin the elongated handle portion 7b.

With the above arrangement of parts in mind, it is apparent that withlock-nut 8 backed-ofi against its stop washer 16, the knob assembly canbe manually manipulated to move the control shaft 6 to any selectedposition. The nut may be knurled to facilitate manipulation thereof, andif it is desired to lock the shaft in any position so selected, thelock-nut is rotated to clamp contiguous parts of the knob assembly tothe support panel; that is, the panel is clamped between the nut and theinner sleeve portion 14. The friction Washers 11, 12 add to the clampingaction to give positive and effective locking of the control knobassembly. It is noted that tightening of the nut does not tend tomutilate or destroy the friction washers, :because the protective washer9 and the enlarged inner sleeve portion 14 do not rotate when thelock-nut is moved against the panel to draw the parts together. Theseparts only move with the knob portion 7, and with this portion heldagainst rotation while drawing up on the nut 8, it is obvious that norotational motion is imparted to either the washer 9 or sleeve portion14.

Thus, the locking is quite simple to accomplish and it is most effectivewhen completed. Moreover, a well arranged and compact assembly isprovided, such that the locking means blends into the design of the knobportion, providing an overall effect that is pleasing to the eye, inaddition to its being functional and utilitarian.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A control device comprising an apertured support, a rotatable shaftextending through said support, a knobassembly affixed to said shaft onone side of said support to facilitate manual positioning thereof, saidknob assembly including a knob portion fastened to'said shaft and a'portionconnected to said knob portion, said portion surrounding saidshaft and extending from said knob'portion through said support suchthat aflpart thereof is contiguous to the other side of said support,and means to clamp said part to said support to prevent movement of saidknob portion in either direction of rotation of said shaft. Y I

2. A control device comprising an apertured support, a rotatable shaftextending through said. support; a knob assembly aflixed to said shafton one side of said support to facilitate manual positioning thereof,said knob assembly including a first part contiguous to said one side ofsaid support and a knob portion fastened to said shaft, said knobportion having a portion connected-thereto which surrounds said shaftand extends from said knob portion through said support such that saidportion has a second part which is contiguous to the other side of saidsupport, and means to simultaneously clamp both parts to said support toprevent movement of said knob portion in either direction of rotation ofsaid shaft.

3. A control device comprising an apertured support, a rotatable shaftextending through said support, a knob assembly affixed to said shaft onone side of said support to facilitate manual positioning thereof, saidknob assembly including a knob portion fastened to said shaft and athreaded portion connected to said knob portion, said threaded portionsurrounding said shaft and extending from said knob portion through saidsupport such that a part thereof is contiguous to the other side of saidsupport, and a nut cooperating with said threaded portion to clamp saidcontiguous part to said support to thereby prevent movement of said knobportion in either direction of rotation of said shaft.

4. A control device comprising an apertured support, a rotatable shaftextending through said support, a knob assembly affixed to said shaft onone side of said support to facilitate manual positioning thereof, saidknob assembly including a knob portion fastened to said shaft and athreaded portion surrounding said shaft andextending from said knobportion through said support such that a part thereof is contiguous tothe other side of said support, a nut cooperating with said threadedportion to clamp portions of said support between said nut and said partto prevent movement of said knob portion in either direction of rotationof said shaft, and friction means disposed between said support and saidcontiguous part and between said support and said nut.

5. A controldevice comprising an apertured support, a rotatable shaftextending through said support, a knob assembly afiixed to said shaft onone side of said support to facilitate manual positioning thereof andincluding a knob portion fastened to said shaft and an externallythreaded sleeve slidably surrounding said shaft and extending throughsaid support, said knob portion and said sleeve being keyed together torotate as a unit, said sleeve having an annular portion contiguous tothe other side of said support, and a lock-nut cooperating with saidsleeve and located between said knob portion and said support, said nutbeing adapted to clamp said support between it and said annular sleeveportion to prevent rotation of said knob portion in either direction ofrotation of said shaft.

6. A controldevice comprising an apertured support, a

rotatable shaft extending through said support, a knob assembly aflixedto said shaft. on one side of said support to facilitate manualpositioning thereof and including a knob portion fastened to said shaftand an, externally threaded sleeve slidably surrounding said shaft andextending through said support, said knob portion and said sleeve beingkeyed together to rotate as a unit, said sleeve having an enlargedannular portion fastened thereto and contiguous to the other side ofsaid support, an enlarged lock nut cooperating with said sleeve andlocated between said knob-portion and: said support, and annularfriction washers surrounding said sleeve on both sidesof said panel'tofacilitate manual positioning thereof and including a knobportion'fitted over the outer end of said shaft and fastened thereto andalso including an externally threaded sleeve slidably surrounding saidshaft and ex' tending through said panel, saidknob portion and saidsleeve being keyed together to 'rotate as a unit, said knob portionbeing recessed to receive a portion of said sleeve, said sleeve havingan annular portion fastened to its-inner end contiguous to the innersideof said panel, a lock nut threadably engaging said sleeve on theouter side of said panel between the panel and said' knob portion, aprotective washer surrounding said sleeve between said nut and saidpanel, said protective washer being keyed to said knob portion,andannular resilient friction washers surrounding said sleeve onbothsides of said panel there being one between said protective washerand said panel and one between said annularsleeve portion and saidpanel, said nut being adapted to draw said annular sleeve portion upagainst said panel to thereby prevent movement of said knob portion ineither direc-.

tion of rotation of said shaft.

8. The combination defined by claim 7 wherein said knob portion has acontrol hub portion, a first elongated portion extending from one sideof said hub to form a manually operable handle, and a second elongatedportion extending from the opposite side .of said hub to form a pointer,said hub having a diameter less than the outer diameter of said lock nutand said elongated portions being cut away so that said knob fits oversaid lock nut;

9. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein said knob portion isfastened to said'shaft by a plurality of set screws and said annularsleeve portion has an elongated tab portion to act as a stop incooperation with a projecting stop provided on the inner side of saidpanel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FranceJuly 4,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.2,836,989 June 3, 1958 William J, Schultz It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 3, line 44, after "portion" insert connected to said knobportion, said threaded portion Signed and sealed this 10th day ofFebruary 1959.

( SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Oflicer Commissioner ofPatents

